Spindle coma and alternating pattern in the course of measles encephalitis.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a well known complication of measles infection. Electroencephalographic abnormalities may occur frequently, in the form of moderate to severe diffuse high voltage theta-delta activity. We report a case of measles encephalitis with rapid benign outcome, that showed peculiar EEG features both of a "spindle coma" pattern and of an "alternating pattern." Possible physiological explanations of the EEG findings are discussed.
Bortone
E
E
Neurological Institute, University of Parma, Italy.
Bettoni
L
L
Buzio
S
S
Delsoldato
S
S
Giorgi
C
C
Mancia
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000209:etiology